As I watched Tiger Woods pull off yet another amazing victory on the PGA Tour yesterday, I started thinking about what the tournaments are like when he isn’t playing. There are still great players playing great golf, but it just isn’t the same and everyone knows it.

As Tiger is to golf, Kelly is to surfing. As long as he is performing at his peak level, any victory by other surfers in an event that Slater doesn’t show up to will be followed with a “that’s great,but….”

It is for this reason that Kelly’s recent decision to participate in the 2008 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach should bring smiles to the faces of the surfing world and fellow competitors alike.

Despite winning the first event of the year at Snapper Rocks, Slater remained uncertain as to whether or not he would attend the Rip Curl Pro. After 14 years on tour, the 8-time ASP World Champion has been adamant that he will compete selectively in 2008 in order to pursue other interests. Slater even went as far as to call and officially withdraw his name from the event. Thats when Mother Nature came through. When told of the stellar forecast for the event Slater reconsidered. He stated the combination of world-class waves and pleas of many helped in his decision to show up, and we are all better off for that.

There were some pretty strong responses about wanting to see me there. So that, the swell, and some changes in my personal life and suddenly it was perfect timing for me to get away. All the signs pointed this direction so it seemed like the thing to do.

asp world tourrip curlkelly slaterwct

The more things change the more they stay the same…

As the 2008 ASP Tour moves from Snapper Rocks to Bells Beach there is an all too familiar name atop the standings. With the much of the build-up to the Quiksilver Pro heavily centered around so many others, Kelly Slater decided to remind us that as long as he decides to show up he is the favorite for any event. Again, that is as long as he decides to show up. There is still no confirmation of Kelly’s decision and we may just have to wait until the opening horn of his 1st round heat to find out if he will be among those looking to ring the famed bell when the 2008 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach comes to an end.

In a normal year on tour, average results through these first two Australia stops would still leave the top surfers with plenty of opportunities to make up ground throughout the rest of the year. 2008, however, is by no means an average year. With the number of surfers with legitimate title hopes as high as ever, there is an element of added pressure to finish well at Bells and hopefully come out on top.

This is currently the position that defending Bells champ and last years overall #2 Taj Burrow finds himself in. He was surfing as well as ever at Snapper until his perplexing round 4 ousting at the hands of goofy-footer Adrian Buchan. Taj made it very clear at the beginning of the year that it is world-title or bust for him. With that being the case, he is going to need to come out firing at Bells and hope for a repeat performance of last years victory.

So what can we expect to see at Bells this year? 6 out of the last 7 Bells winners have come from the Slater, Burrow, Andy Irons, Joel Parkinson, and Mick Fanning group. This is a trend that is likely to continue as these are the surfers with the best shot at winning it all in this ultra-competitive year. Mick just got married over the weekend so it will be interesting to see how well he is able to stay focused following his tying of the knot. Parko and A.I. held their own at Snapper with 5th place finishes, but they will both be looking to improve on those results at Bells.

Outside of the ‘usual suspects’ there is no one on tour who has experienced the taste of victory at Bells. That doesn’t mean we won’t have a 1st time winner, but given what is at stake I don’t see it happening. Bede Durbidge and Jeremy Flores seem to be the two with the best chance of ringing the bell for their first time. From the last half of 2007 until now, there are few who have surfed as impressively as Durbidge has. Flores went down to Slater in the semi’s at Snapper, and reportedly went straight to Bells to prepare for the contest. I would be surprised, but not shocked if either of those two found their way into a Bells Final.

The forecast for Bells has event organizers licking their lips. However, we heard the same thing over at Snapper, but not a whole lot ever materialized in the form of swell. It was good, but by no means great. Hopefully higher quality surf will make its way to Bells Beach as we move throughout the week. As incredible of a competition as Snapper was, the added pressure of producing a solid result at Bells is only going to raise the bar that much higher.

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Stand-up Paddleboarding has now established itself as a mainstay within the surfing community, and I have personally placed it firmly atop my list of ‘things to attempt’ by years end. A cousin of mine recently returned from a visit to Oahu, where he was able to take advantage of the late-season swells, as well as find some time to visit family in between sessions. While there he was given the opportunity to try the rapidly growing sport for the first time at one of our somewhat secret spots on the South Shore.

I’ve surfed with him as far back as I can remember, as they would make annual trips from Los Angeles to come spend time with us on the islands. So when he returned with an eagerness to let me know about how much fun it was to give it a try, Stand-up Paddleboarding went from being a passing curiosity to a must-try in no time at all.

If any evidence is needed that Stand-up Paddleboarding is on a rapid rise, simply keep your eyes open each time you paddle out and watch as the number of enthusiasts continues to grow. As it does we will continue to be graced with mind-blowing shots of surfers such as Garret McNamara taking on the worlds heaviest waves with paddle in hand. The number of Stand-up competitions will increase as will the prize money.

The future is looking mighty bright for Stand-up Paddleboarding, and I’ll be sure to report back once I make my goal a reality.

The heightened awareness of the perils facing our environment has inspired companies throughout our industry to find creative ways of helping out, more so now than ever before. The surfing community, as much as any other, has risen up to take the lead on this cause. And why shouldn’t we? We as surfers are completely dependent on Mother Nature and her well-being.

With that being said, substance alone usually won’t sell a whole lot of product. In order for products aimed at helping out the environment to be successful, it is imperative that companies are combining their substance with a whole lot of fresh style. With the “Endangered Waves” sandal(or ’slippah’ for the braddahs out there) Vans and Surfrider have done just that.

With the loss of prominent breaks over the last few years and the endangerment of so many more, Vans, Surfing Magazine and Surfrider Foundation have teamed up to produce a sandal featuring images of four of the most threatened waves from around the world. Ma’alaea in Hawaii, El Gongal in Spain, Bastion Point in Australia and Trestles in California can all be seen on the sandal. It’s a classy design and just an all around great looking set of footwear.

When speaking of the sandal, Surfrider CEO Jim Moriarty had this to say…

Right now a surf break is being lost or otherwise diminished somewhere on this planet, people need to understand that waves are finite resources. Once they are lost or damaged it is difficult, if not impossible, to restore them.

Thanks to Vans, a portion of proceeds, totaling $10,000, from the sales of these sandals will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation to assist them in their efforts to protect and preserve oceans, waves and beaches across the globe. Not only are they doing it with substance, but they’ve got a whole lot of style as well.

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surfrider foundation

One of the common denominators of any book, song, or movie that I have ever considered to be a classic is the ability to experience it over and over and find something new each time. For any production to be labeled great and timeless, it needs to be able to grab the attention of its audience with something fresh time and time again. Taylor Steele’s Trilogy does just that.
I could probably sit and write a never-ending post about everything that makes this movie one of the all-time classics that it is, but the only way to really find out is to get cozy, set yourself up with something to munch, and watch it yourself.

The soundtrack, the cinematography, and so many of the little nuances that are found in all of Steele’s productions have made this my current go-to flick. I’m always ready to throw it in whenever I feel like charging up my session batteries or just pumping out an incredibly solid and varied set of tunes to listen to while I take care of business around the office.

The combination of A.I., Parko, and Taj Burrow works perfectly and gives the viewer the opportunity to watch three of surfings best absolutely kill it, each with their individual touch of style and creativity. Whether it’s Parko’s fluidity, Andy’s knack for unleashing on beastly, throaty barrels, or the picture perfect head movement of Taj as he sets up his third and fourth moves down the line, there is a limitless amount of visual love to take with you every time you get a chance to pop this little slice of goodness in.

On a side note, writing this post reminds me that as much as I’ve taken to this film, it’s probably time to return it to the friend that loaned it to me about a month ago. I guess my delinquency in returning the movie is just another testament to the greatness that is Taylor Steele’s “Trilogy”.

trilogyandy ironstaj burrowjoel parkinson

What took so long, Hawaii? Finally, after several years of discussion, planning and navigation through logistical hurdles, official high school team surf competition is expected to become a reality this weekend. Teams from Castle, Kahuku, Kaimuki and Kalaheo High Schools are scheduled to compete this weekend in what is believed to be the first Department of Education-approved surf competition between schools in the Hawaiian Islands.

As I’ve mentioned in other posts, the bureaucracy in Hawaii is notorious for dragging their feet on so many issues that are vital to its communities. With that being said, you would think that a state that so many consider to be the epicenter for surfing would take the lead on providing an opportunity for high-school athletes to compete against one another in the sport they love.

Even though this is a step in the right direction, it is still not quite enough. The upcoming competition is not sanctioned by the O’ahu Interscholastic Association or the Hawai’i High School Athletic Association, so surfing still is not an official high school sport. It is classified as a “club” type extracurricular activity.

While realizing there is quite a bit of ‘red tape’ when it comes to sanctioning high school sports, it is still appalling that the state of Hawaii is so far behind on this issue. I’ve long been impressed with the way California runs their high school surf programs, thus providing a positive outlet for students that would rather let their abilities shine in the water rather than on the field. The positives of high school surfing far outweigh the negatives and hopefully this is the first step of many for Hawaii and they will continue to move toward the sanctioning of surfing as an official sport.

The line-up and location for SIMA’s Surf Summit 11 has just been announced and the event looks like it will be world class.

After holding the event at the same location for the last 5 years, SIMA is turning it up a notch and holding this year’s summit at the beautiful Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar Resort & Spa in Cabo.

As impressive as the Sheraton is, the list of seminars and speakers are what makes the Surf Summit 11 a great opportunity for those who are able to make it. They have pulled speakers from all over the surf industry and there will be a variety of issues and topics covered at this years summit. Here are some of the speakers as well as topics they will be covering-

Bob Hurley / CEO, Hurley International - Keynote address

Brad Gerlach / Professional Big-Wave Surfer - In a visually stunning 40-minute presentation, Brad uses his big-wave surfing exploits – both good and bad – to teach the importance of preparation, teamwork and overcoming fears, and how this relates to your approach to business.

Tony Hsieh / CEO, Zappos.com - Learn how to build a customer-focused culture from one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

Kevin Carroll / One of the Masterminds Behind the Livestrong Bracelet Campaign - Kevin uses his masterful story-telling skills to communicate his vast and varied experiences to entertain, enlighten and challenge business leaders and world wide audiences. Using lessons garnered from the spirit and dynamics of play, Carroll helps them understand how to enliven and enrich their work lives, enhance innovation, and improve team dynamics and interpersonal communication.

Sir Ken Robinson / Renowned Speaker and Author of Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative - Robinson shares insight on the creative challenges facing businesses in the new global economy, as well as the different ways creativity is undervalued in Western culture.

Matt Mason / Author, The Pirate’s Dilemma: How Youth Culture Reinvented Capitalism - An expert on youth culture, business and media, Matt Mason will discuss the problems and opportunities created by the rise of piracy and the potential of piracy as a business model. Learn how pirates create markets, signal trends, and develop innovative ways to reach their markets.

Jim Moriarty / CEO, Surfrider Foundation - Jim will discuss next steps in the fight to save Trestles, other ‘Trestles’ situations out there that need our attention, as well as the importance, power and value of the surf industry uniting as one for important causes.

The one thing I always notice that’s missing at these industry events are panels geared toward online marketing strategies. That’s the one area our industry is definitely behind the curve on so I’d love to see more topics and panels focused around the subject.

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‘Core’ just took on a whole new meaning. Actor Matthew McConaughey is throwing his hat into the surf industry with the release of his own line of swim and surf apparel named j.k. livin, after his production company — and personal mantra — “Just keep livin’.”

McConaughey recently stated “There’s a perception of me as a beach guy,” and now feels the need to put his stamp on a line that is said to be a one-stop supply for everything you need at the beach.

As I covered previously with Evolution’s release of celebrity designed surfboards, it’s always fun to see celebrities giving it a shot in the industry. It’s almost like the kid that just can’t keep his hand out of the cookie jar. To each his own I guess and it will be somewhat interesting to see the designs they come up with.

I will say this much, if McConaughey himself is going to participate in the marketing of his own line it definitely will put a premium on the many skin-laden shots taken of the actor parading around Malibu.

Who knows? Could we possibly have ourselves a J.K. Livin Pro on the ASP Tour in the coming years? I’m going to guess no.

j.k. livin

I’ve always felt there has been a longstanding void in the action sports industry when it comes to talk radio. For whatever reason, there is a clear lack of resources that provide the opportunity for action sports enthusiasts to engage in healthy discussion as well as catching up on what’s going on.. Whether it’s snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding, or any other sport that sits under the action sports umbrella, people love to talk about what’s going on in the activities they make part of their daily lives.

With the first and only talk-radio program in the world that is dedicated to action-sports, its athletes, and the lifestyle, action-sports pioneer and visionary Todd Weatherill is aiming to fill some of that void. The show is geared totally toward the coverage of action sports and can be heard via live internet stream kcaaradio.com, through pod-cast past shows (On Sunday Schedule), and live on AM 1050 in SoCal at 3pm PST on Sundays.

Although there is still a long way to go, this is definitely a step in the right direction for the action sports industry. And while talk radio geared specifically toward action sports is a good start, it really is just the tip of the iceberg for what is possible in our industry. We have the most incredible, progressive, and perpetually evolving sports in the world as well as some of the most talented athletes around. With that being the case, why is it that we pale in comparison to the platforms provided by other sports for fan involvement? This is as exciting a time as any for our industry and hopefully this move into talk radio is just the beginning.

It wouldn’t be possible to move on from the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast coverage without mentioning 18 yr. old Julian Wilson. He surfed well and was eventually eliminated by runner-up Mick Fanning. As impressive as he was in the water, he should be greatly recognized for his actions outside of competitive surfing.

The young ripper showed up to Snapper with a quiver of pink boards that he will be auctioning off to raise money for breast cancer research. He said his inspiration was his mother, who battled breast cancer when he was a kid.

It’s not often a young guy would opt to ride a pink board, but Julian did just that. When I saw him making his way to the keyhole at Snapper before his heats, I was taken by the image of his pink board tucked underneath his arm.

Julian Wilson will continue to explode and push the limits of what is possible on a surfboard. His ’sushi roll’ blew my mind when I first saw the video. But it is the heart of this young man that will continue to lead him to greatness.

julian wilson